10
breakfast and 8 dinners (3-course of buffet). Dinner in
Akureyri and first night in Reykjavik not included.

Visit
3 national parks, admission to settlement center in
Borgarnes, entrance and visit to lava cave on the
Snaefellsnes peninsula, ferry trip to the West Fjords,
entrance fee to folk and transport museum at Hnjotur,
visit to Erik the Red homestead, horse show in Northwest
Iceland, entrance fee and towel to the Nature baths at
Lake Myvatn, visit to stone collection in East Fjords,
boat trip between floating icebergs on glacial lagoon,
visit to multimedia presentation at Eyjafjallajokull
volcano information center

A
complete coach tour around Iceland including
Snaefellsnes peninsula and the West Fjords

Average
of 1-2 hours easy walking per day

Maximum
of 20 participants

Airport
transfers

There
is a possibility that some of the nature attractions
around Iceland might charge an entrance fee during the
trip. These entrance fees are not included in the tour
price and need to be paid by all tour members on the
spot.

Not
Included: Lunch, tips, insurance, porterage

Note:
Single rooms are limited and we might have to ask single
travelers to share rooms. There is a possibility that
some of the nature attractions around Iceland might
charge an entrance fee during the trip. These entrance
fees are not included in the tour price and need to be
paid by all tour members on the spot.

.

Country
Hotels & Guest Houses
(subject
to change)

Reykjavik:

Klettur

Borgarfjordur:

Icelandair
Hotel Hamar

Snaefellsnes:

Hotel
Framnes in Grundarfjordur

West
Fjords:

Countryhotel
Flokalundur or Fosshotel West Fjords

Dalir
Region:

Country
lodge Vogur

Akuryeri:

Hotel
Kea

Lake
Myvatn:

Hotel
Laxa

East
Iceland:

Country
Guesthotel Alfheimer in Borgarfjordur Eystri

Vatnajokull
National Park:

Hotel
Skaftafell

Departures
and Prices 2016

Starting
Dates

Terminating
Dates

June 1

June 11

June 15

June 25

June 29

July 9

July 13

July 23

July 27

August 6

August 10

August 20

August 24

September 3

Rates

Per
Person In Twin

$ 4400.00

Single
Per Person on Request basis

$ 940.00

ITINERARY

Day
1, Wednesday: Welcome to Iceland

The Flybus shuttle brings travelers from Keflavík International airport to Reykjavík where you spend the first night in Iceland. We provide you with ideas how to explore Iceland's capital on your own.
(O)

Day
2, Thursday: Golden Circle

We see classic highlights today. We explore Gullfoss, the beautiful double “Golden Falls” and we walk through the active geothermal area of Geysir, where Strokkur “the churn” spouts up to 25 meters (70 feet) every five to seven minutes. A visit to the ancient Viking Parliament area and UNESCO world heritage site of Þingvellir National Park tops the day off before travelling along the scenic shores of Hvalfjörður fjord. Overnight in Borgarfjörður, West Iceland.
(B,O)

Day
3, Friday: Snaefellsnes
Peninsula & Lava Cave

This morning we are introduced to the Icelandic sagas in the settlement center in Borgarnes. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula “the peninsula of the snowy mountain” juts out from Iceland’s west coast, like a long arm with a clenched fist at its tip, and is in many ways a microcosm of the whole island. A rugged mountain chain runs its length, capped by the 1,446 meter Snæfellsjökull, a mystical cone-shaped strato volcano. We travel around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, through lava fields and along the ocean with many classic Icelandic photo opportunities. We visit the most popular sites at the national park where volcanic craters, lava flows, an ice cap, glaciated peaks, fjords, sandy beaches, and high cliffs shape its landscapes.
We follow the adventure of Jules Verne's classic science fiction novel about the journey to the center of the Earth. Do not miss your chance to go on your own trip to the interior of the Earth under the glacier Snæfellsjökull! This lava cave tour takes you 35 meters underground and about 200 meters into the lava cube called Vatnshellir. During the tour you reach two different sections of the cave by a long and narrow staircase. The upper section has great features and unique formations of lava statues curved on the sides of the lava tube. In the lower part of the lava cave you experience total quietness and even total darkness when your guide switches of the light. The total duration of the lave cave tour is approximately one hour. Overnight in the Grundarfjörður area.
(B,O)

Day
4, Saturday: Iceland's Westernmost Point

We
need to wake up early and catch the morning car ferry Baldur from
Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur in the West Fjords. On the way over Breiðafjörður
bay, the ferry stops on the island of Flatey. If the weather is nice you
enjoy a magnificent view of the bay’s countless islands as well as the
glacier Snæfellsjökull. We follow the coastline and stop at the folk
and transport museum in Hnjótur. We continue through a very remote and
sparsely populated region to the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg, the
westernmost point of Iceland (and Europe) where you can see puffins from
mid-May till mid-August. We take a memorable walk in the wilderness to
the top of the highest bird cliffs in Iceland. Látrabjarg is known in
the world for its density of northern birds. Puffins, razorbills,
guillemots, fulmars, cormorants, kittiwakes and other cliff birds flock
either in hundreds, thousands and even in millions. This is a place
where you can get very close to the seabirds and even if you’re not
into bird watching, you are entertained by the comic puffins and
mesmerized by the sheer number of birds. Overnight at Flokalundur or
Patreksfjordur. (B,O)

Day
5, Sunday: Beautiful West Fjords

We travel the shore of many scenic fjords, beautiful beaches, and pass through small fishing villages until we reach the majestic fjord Arnarfjörður, surrounded by high mountains. At the bottom of the fjord we come across the unique waterfall Dynjandi with its seven levels of plunging water, declared the country’s most beautiful waterfall by the people of Iceland. We continue over a mountain pass and travel along the southern shores of the West Fjords. This is a route less travelled and is characterized by sheer cliffs, deep cut bays and narrow stretches of coastal lowland. We overnight at the remote Vogur Country Lodge in West Iceland. This is a truly peaceful and beautiful place close to Breiðafjörður Bay, giving you the feeling of being all alone in Iceland.
(B,O)

Day
6, Monday: Heading North

In the morning we travel mostly off-the-beaten path, see abandoned farms, beautiful little country churches and Icelandic horses. At Haukadalur, there’s a rather authentic replica of the homestead of Erik the Red, the famous explorer who founded the Icelandic colony in Greenland. His son Leif-the-Lucky, born in Haukadalur, Iceland, was the first European to set foot in North America. Now the excavated and reconstructed farm in Haukadalur is a living Viking museum, a fun, informative and a photogenic place. The landscape is dominated by mountains, lakes, valleys, sea and wide open spaces. We head north and stop at a local farm for a horse show where we learn about the unique qualities of Iceland’s special breed. Afterwards we travel through the fertile farmlands and fjord landscapes of Northwest Iceland before we visit to the charming town of Akureyri, Iceland’s second largest city. Overnight in the capital of North Iceland.
(B,O)

Day
7, Tuesday: Geological Wonders and Nature Baths

We explore Goðafoss, the waterfall of the Gods, and continue to lake Mývatn, known for its rich bird life and extraordinary volcanic lava landscapes. We visit pseudo craters, walk in the lava field Dimmuborgir, climb up to the rim of the ash crater Hverfjall, see the hot springs and bubbling mud pools of Námaskarð, and travel to the crater lake Víti in the Krafla geothermal fields. In the afternoon relax and soak at the Mývatn Nature Baths. Overnight near lake Mývatn.
(B,O)

Day
8, Wednesday: The Secret of the East

We travel to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall in the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park. From there we head through the uninhabited highlands to East Iceland. We explore the northernmost fjord on the East Fjord mountain range. The isolated village Bakkagerði has only 120 inhabitants and is a charming village, built snugly next to the steep mountainside. Driving to Borgarfjörður Eystri is dramatic and rewarding. The colorful mountains are simply unique and impressive. We experience an unusual opportunity to visit a traditional Icelandic fishing village, still relying on small boat fishing. There is an art gallery in the village, displaying the work of Jóhannes Kjarval. He is a well-known Icelandic painter who grew up in Borgarfjörður Eystri and his home town and its landscape have much influenced his work. Borgarfjörður Eystri is home to an extensive population of elves – judging by the 172 local folk tales involving elves. On the outskirts of the village is Álfaborg, a protected site where the queen of elves is believed to live within a uniquely shaped rock castle. The elf-stories provide a fascinating lecture especially for the younger generation.
(B,O)

Day
9, Thursday: Fjords, Glaciers and Ice

It’s a day to admire the dramatic fjord landscape and its tiny fishing villages at the end of twisty roads in the East Fjords and en route we visit an interesting stone collection. In the afternoon we see Vatnajökull – Europe’s biggest glacier that is visible all over Southeast Iceland. Past the town of Höfn, we stop for a boat ride amongst the floating icebergs on the glacial lagoon at Jökulsárlón. The night is spent near Skaftafell on the southern part of Vatnajökull National Park.
(B,O)

Day
10, Friday: Vatnajokull National Park and the South

Visit Skaftafell at the Vatnajökull National Park, covered by ice and nestled below Iceland’s highest mountain, the 2,110 meter high Hvannadalshnjúkur. We walk close to one of the many glacial tongues in the area – a kodak moment. We cross a sandy desert and drive along the south coast, always between the sea, mountainous cliffs, glaciers and waterfalls. We stroll along the black lava beach and bird cliffs near the village of Vík. At the Eyjafjallajökull Information Center we learn how it is to live next to a glacier and an active volcano. We stop at the Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls. Farewell dinner at a nice gourmet restaurant in Reykjavík and the last night is spent in Iceland's capital.
(B,O)

Day
11, Saturday: Departure

The
FLYBUS airport shuttle picks you up at your hotel and takes you to
Keflavik airport (B)